Corn-planter.



No. 844,550. PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

' H. W THOMASSON.

CORN PLAN TEE.

APPLICATION FILED AU G 6.1906.

3 SHEETS-8HEBT 1.

Z jzazzomasva No. 84 L550.-

CORN PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 6. 1906.

' PATBNT'ED .FEB. 19, 1907.

' H. W; THOMASSON.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HUGH W. THOMASSON', OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CORN-PLANTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application filed August 6, 1906. Serial No. 329.365.

T or whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH W. THoMAssov, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the driving mechanism ofcorn-planters, whereby the seed-dropping mechanism is operated, alsomeans forindicating the proper point at which planting operation is tobe started at the end of each row being planted, and means for actuatingsaid indicating means, also to cross-rowmarking means.

Figure I is a top or plan view of my cornplanter. Fig. II is a sideelevation of the planter. Fig. III is an enlarged view, partly in planand partly in horizontal section, of the central portion of my planter,including the seedbox and parts adjacent thereto. Fig. IV is an enlargedview, partly inside elevation and partly in vertical section, taken online IV IV, Fig. I. Fig. V is an enlarged view of the central portion ofone end of the driving-roller of the planter, one of its trunnions, anda portion of the planter-frame in which said trunnion operates. Fig. VIis an enlarged elevation of one of the pawl-wheels carried by thedriving-roller trunnions. Fig. VII is an enlarged view, partly inelevation and partly in section, of one of the ratchetbarrels in whichthe trunnion-carried pawlwheels operate. Fi VIII is an enlargedhorizontal section ta en on line VIII VIII, Fig. IV. Fig. IX is anenlarged view, partly in horizontal section and partly in plan. of theseedbox and members therein, said members being partly broken away. Fig.X is an enlarged vertical section taken through the seedbox and thefurrow-shoe chute located beneath said box. Fig. XI is an enlarged view,partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross-section, taken throughthe furrowshoe chute at a right angle to the line at which the sectionshown in Fig. X is taken. Fig. XII is an elevation of one of thepawlwheels and barrels carried by the drivingroller trunnions.

1 designates a driving or land roller that is provided at its ends withtrunnions 2, the said trunnions being formed with circular portions 3and non-circular portions 4, as seen most clearly in Figs. V and VIII.

5 is a frame of approximately rectangular form which surrounds thedriving-roller and in the ends of which the circular portions 3 of theroller-trunnions are j ournaled.

6 are draft-arms attached to the frame 5 at its forward side andterminating at their foremost ends in collars 7. Y

8 is a draft-tongue equipped with straps 9, that terminate at theirrearends in bearingsleeves 10 which are loosely journaled in the draft-armcollars 7. (See Fig. III.)

11 designates a seedbox that is located at the rear of the draft-tongueand partially positioned between the straps 9. This seedbox is supportedby a furrow-shoe 12, attached to the draft-tongue, and a furrowshoechute '13, forming a part of said shoe and located immediately beneathsaid seedbox. In the seedbox is an aperture coverplate 14, beneath whichis a perforated seeddisk 15. Beneath the seed-disk is a bottom plate 16,that is provided with a seed-outlet 17, through which the seed escapesfrom the seedbox into the furrow-shoe chute after it has been conductedto said outlet by the seed-disk.

18 is a rack-ring located in the seedbox and to which the seed-disk isfitted. This rack-ring is driven by means to be hereinafter described,and located at intervals at the perimeter of the ring areindicatingnotches 19, (see Figs. IX and XI,) the purpose of which willbe hereinafter stated. The shell of the seedbox is provided at its lowerend with openings 11, through which the notches in the rack-ring may beviewed from the exterior of the seedbox.

20 designates a seedbox-mechanism-Operating shaft which extends acrossthe planter in front of its driving-roller and which passes throughjournal-boxes 13, located at the upper end of the furrow-shoe chute 13and through the bearing-sleeves 7 of the draft tongue straps 9. (SeeFig. III.)

21 is a sleeve surrounding the central portion of the shaft-20. Thissleeve is j ournaled in the journal-boxes 13 and the bearingsleeves 10,so as to be susceptible of turning loosely in said members, and theshaft 20 is journaled in said sleeve for rotation. The means by whichrotary motion is imparted to the shaft 20 will be hereinafter described.

22 is a driving-wheel fixed to the shaft 20 and arranged in mesh withthe rack-ring 18,

(see Fig. XL) and whereby said rack-ring is rotated to impart movementto the seeddisk 15.

23 is an idler-wheel loosely mounted on the sleeve 21 and arranged inmesh with the rack-wheel 18, this idler-wheel being locateddiametrically opposite to the driving-wheel 22, relative to therack-ring 18.

24 is a check-valve supported by arms 25, loosely mounted on the sleeve21 and controlled by a spring-arm 26, that is fixed at one end to saidsleeve and the other end of which bears against said check-valve. (SeeFig. X.) The check-valve normally hangs suspended in the furrow-shoechute 13 beneath the bottom of the seedbox 11, but it is medium ofcrank-arms 28, fixed to said shaft and having loose connection with saidlinks.

29 are ratchet-barrels loosely surrounding the driving-roller trunnions2 and having the interior ratchet-teeth 30. (See Figs. IV, VII, VIII,and XII.) .Each of said ratchetwheels is provided with a wrist 31, towhich.

the rear end of the corresponding driving.

link 27 is loosely fitted.

32 are pawl-wheels mounted upon the noncircular portions 4 of thetrunnions 2, the hubs of said pawl-wheels being provided withnon-circular central openings 33, (see Figs. VI and XIIL) so that thepawl-wheels are held from rotation on the non-circular portions of saidtrunnions. Each pawlwheel is provided with a plurality of spring pawls34, radiating from the hub of said wheel, and which extend in straightlines from said hub, as seen in Fig. VI when the pawl-wheel is removedfrom the barrel 29 to which it corresponds. Each pawl-wheel is adaptedto be introduced. into one of the ratchet-barrels 29, and when sointroduced the pawls are curved, as seen most clearly in Fig. XII, inorder that they will engage the teeth at the interior of said barrel andact with driving action against said teeth to rotate the barrel when.the driving-roller 1 of the planter is rotated in a forward direction.It will be seen that by this construction the pawl-wheels act upon theratchet-barrels to impart rotation thereto and that the ratchetbarrelsin turn operate to impart movement to the driving-links 27, and saidlinks in turn act to drive the seedbox-dropping-mechanism shaft 20.

. 35 designates a finger-wheel or star-wheel that is fixed to theseed-dropping-mecl1anism shaft 20 and is provided with a plurality of Iso disposed relative to the seed-dropping mechanism of the planter thatone of them may be caused to point in a direct vertical line downwardlyfrom the axis of said wheel or in approximately such vertical line whenthe dro ping mechanism has carried seed to the outlet in the bottom ofthe seedbox 11, whereby the commencement of planting operation may bepositively known, due to the indication by said downwardly-pointingfinger. To provide for the adjustment of the linger-wheel in order thatthe desired indication of dropping action may be secured, I utilize thefollowing mechanism: 37 is a ratchet-barrel having interior teeth 38(see Figs. II, IV, and XI) and provided with a wrist- 39. (See Figs. Iand III.) This ratchet-barrel is fixed to the sleeve 21, that surroundsthe shaft 20. 40 is a pawl-wheel similar in form to the pawl-wheel 32and arranged to operate within the ratchet-barrel 37, the pawls of saidwheel and the teeth of said barrel being, however, disposed in oppositedirections to the pawls and teeth of the pawl-wheel 32 andratchet-barrel 29 in order that there shall be no conflict between theoperation of the two pawl-and-ratchet mechanisms. The pawl-wheel 40 isfixed to the dropping-mechanism shaft 20 to rotate with said shaft. 41is an operating-rod having one of its ends loosely fitted to the wrist39 of the ratchet-barrel 37. 42 is a hand-lever to which the other endof said rod is loosely fitted at 43. The hand-lever is pivoted at 44 toa segmental rack 45, that is provided at its forward end with a lug 46and at its rear end with a notch 47. When the hand-lever 42 is movedforwardly toward the rack-lug 46, thrust is imparted to theoperating-rod 41, and the ratchet-barrel 37 is revolved around the shaft20, and this barrel being in engagement with the pawl-wheel 40 causessaid pawl-wheel to be rotated and rotate the shaft 20, with the resultof moving the fingerwheel 35 until one of its fingers points to thelocation in the-ground at which planting operation is to begin. Thislocation is preferably determined by producing cross-marks across thefield to be planted and at what is to be the ends of the planted rows.Accurate indication as to the proper positions of the finger-wheel 35and the dropping mechanism when the seedbox mechanism is in droppingposition isafforded by the notches 19 in the rack-ring 18 when saidnotches a pear to view through the openings 11. in t 1e seedbox-shelland to which reference has been previously made.

The ratchet-barrel 37, operating-rod 41, and hand-lever 42 have utilityin addition to that described, in that they furnish means for operatingthe check-valve 24 to close it when the planter is not in operation.This action is accomplished by moving the hand-lever 42 rearwardly untila catch of any suitable form carried by said lever is caused to engagein a notch 47 of the segment-rack 45. By so moving the hand-lever theconnecting-rod 4]. is drawn rearwardly and acts to rotate theratchet-barrel without operating the pawlwheel 40, and saidratchet-barrel carries with it the sleeve 21', to which the check-valve24 is applied, thereby causing said check-valve to be seated in theoutlet 17 of the seedbox bottom plate 16. I/Vhen the planting operationis to be resumed, the hand-lever is re turned to its former position andthe checkvalve is withdrawn from the seedbox-outlet.

48 designates a seat-supporting member having its forward end secured tothe frame of the planter and extending rearwardly over thedriving-roller 1. This seat-support has the segment-rack 45 and thehand-lever 42 applied thereto, and the support is sustained. at its rearend by braces 49, that are attached to the rear portion of the frame 5.

5O designates a pair of spring marking-lingers removably seated in therear portion of the frame 5. (See Figs. I and I1.) These marking-lingersextend downwardly from the frame, and they are adapted to be utilized..in producing the cross-marks in the ground previous to the commencementof planting operation in order that the fingers of the finger-wheel 35may be brought into service in the manner explained.

For the purpose of closing the check-valve 24 to prevent seed-droppingaction during the period of turning at the ends of the rows beingplanted in a field I utilize the following parts: 51 is a rule-joint armfixed to the bearing-sleeve 10 of one of the draft-tongue straps 9 andextending rearwardly to a position above the forward portion of theplanterframe 5. This arm has connected to it at its rear end a chain 52,that passes beneath the frame 5 (see Figs. II, III, and IV) and thenceto and around the sleeve 21, to which the chain is also attached. Whenit is desired to close the check-valve, the frame 5 is tilted in an 1.?pward direction and in the arc of a circle by placing a preponderance ofweight upon the rear end of the seat-support 48, preferably obtained bythe driver throwing his weight rearwardly upon the seat-snpport. henthis action takes place, the chain 52 is drawn upon by the rule-jointarm, and the chain is unwound from the sleeve 21, with the result ofrotating said sleeve and can sing it to move the check-valve 24 to aclosed position.

I claim- 1.. In a corn-planter, the combination of a frame, adriving-roller having trunnions jorrnaled in said frame, seed-droppingmechanism, ratchet mechanism mounted on said trunnions, and means ofconnection between saidratchet mechanism and said seed-droppingmechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination of a frame, a driving-rollerhaving trunnions journaled in said frame, seed-dropping mechanism, 4ratchet mechanism carried by sa d trunnions, and driving-linksconnecting sald ratchet mechanism to said seed-dropping mechanism,substantially as set forth.

3. In a corn-planter, the combination of a frame, a driving-rollerhaving trunnions journaled in said frame, a seedbox, seed-dischargingmeans associated with said seedbox, a shaft for operating saidseed-discharging means, ratchet mechanism carried by said trunnions, andmeans of connection between said ratchet mechanism and said shaft,substantially as set forth.

4. In a corn-planter, the combination of a frame, a driving-rollerhaving trunnions journaled in said frame, seed-dropping mechanism,ratchet-barrels loosely mounted on said trunnions, pawl-wheelsnon-rotatably I mounted on said trunnions, and engaging saidratchet-barrels, and means of connection between said ratchet-barrelsand said seed-dropping mechanism, substantially as set forth.

' 5. In a cornrplanter, thecombination of a seedbox, seed-dischargingmeans associated with said seedbox, a shaft for operating saidseed-discharging means, an indicator-wheel carried by said shaft, andratchet mechanism for rotating said shaft, substantially as set forth.

6. In a corn-planter, the combination of a seedbox, seed-dischargingmeans associated with said box, a shaft for operating saidseeddischarging means, an indicating-wheel carried by said shaft, apawl-wheel fixed to said shaft, a loosely-supported ratchet-barrelassociated with said pawl-wheel, and means for rotating saidratchet-barrel, substantially as set forth.

7. In a corn-planter, the combination of a seedbox, seed-dischargingmeans associated with said box, a shaft for operating saidseeddischarging means, an indicating-wheel carried by said. shaft, apawl-wheel fixed to said shaft, aloosely-snpported ratchet-barrelassociated with said pawl-wheel, and means for rotating saidratchetbarrel; said last-named means consisting of an operating-rodconnected to said barrel and a hand-lever connected to said link,substantially as set forth.

8. In a corn-planter, the combination of a seedbox, seed-dischargingmeans associated with said seedbox, a shaft geared to saidseed-discharging means, a sleeve surroundingsaid shaft, a check-valvecarried by said sleeve, a ratchet-barrel fixed to said sleeve, apawl-wheel fixed to said shaft and associated with said ratchet-barrel,and means for rotating said ratchet-barrel, substantially as set forth.1

9. In a corn-planter, the combination of a brought into registrationwith the openings 10 seedboX, seed-discharging means associatedinsaidseedbox-Wall,substantiallyasset forth. With said seedbox, a shaftgeared to said In testimony whereof I have hereunto set seed-dischargingmeans, an indicator-Wheel my hand. carried by said shaft, and means forrotating I HUGH W. THOMASSON. said indicator-whee1g said seedbox beingpr0- vided with openings in its Wall and one of the In presence ofmembers of theseed-discharging means be- NELLIE V. ALEXANDER, ingprovided with notches adapted to be, BLANOHE HOGAN.

